Apparatus for replacing grousers and the like



F. LEADER 6 Sheets-Sheet l A INVENTOR. FOREST LEADER HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1963' APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 15, 1960 Nov. 12, 1963 LEADER 3,110,278

APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 15, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FOREST LEADER BY if} au yaww H/S ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1963 F. LEADER 3,110,278

APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 15', 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 r m '1" Q N N Q I N f 0x Q 5 v E g m A R1 INVENTOR.

FOREST LEADER BY fi/LW *3/w145/v HIS ATTORNEYS F. LEADER Nov; 12, 1963 APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet .4

Filed July 15. 1960 INVENTOR. FOREST LEADER HIS A7 TOR/VEYS Nov. 12, 1963 F. LEADER 3,110,273

APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 15, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 35/ INVENTOR. F ORE .9 T L E A DE R HIS ATTORNEYS F. LEADER 3,110,278

Nov. 12, 1963 APPARATUS FOR REPLACING GROUSERS AND THE LIKE e Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 15. 1960 g INVENTOR. FOREST LEADER.

W PZM Hi5 Arrommgrs nitd tates tent 3,116,278 Al PAsATUS 1 6R REPLACING GRGUSERd AND THE LlKE Forest Leader, Gakland, Calif assignor to 1. 8; B Welding Equipment, Inc, a corporation of (Ialifornia Filed Early 15, 1%9, Ser. No. 43,070 13 filaims. {111. 113-123) My invention relates to welding apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for replacing worn grousers of link tracks such as employed in tractors and like equipment.

The link tracks of tractors and the like are exposed in normal use to heavy wear and abuse, and more particularly the grousers with which such tracks are usually provided to assure traction under most adverse conditions.

To replace a worn track with a new one is an ex ensive replacement and particularly in comparison to the cost of replacing only the worn grousers with new grousers.

Heretofore the replacement of grousers was for the main part, a manual operation, involving considerable time and labor, though still enabling completion of a track more economically than the cost of replacing a worn track with a new track.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide novel and improved apparatus for replacement of worn grousers of link tracks and the like;

(2) To provide novel and improved apparatus for replacement of worn grousers, which apparatus provides for handling of the track in a manner to expedite the removal of =worn grousers and the replacement thereof with new ones;

(3) T provide novel and improved apparatus for mounting a link track or the like to be serviced in the replacement of worn grousers;

(4) To provide novel and improved apparatus which will permit replacement of old worn grousers with new ones with a minimum time and labor;

To provide novel and improved apparatus for the re lacement of Worn grousers of a link track or the like, with new ones, and which apparatus is adjustable to service link tracks of varying sizes and dimensions.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal view in section of a mounting assembly for burner and welding head assemblies incorporated in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a View depicting a reversible drive coupling included in the burner and welding head assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken in the plane of 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are views depicting a hydraulically operated grouser clamp and its mode of operation, there being two such clamps employed in the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a View in section through a pressure amplifier associated with the hydraulically operated grouser clamps;

FIG. 11 is a three dimensional view of an index switch control assembly employed in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view in section depicting the construction of track supporting wheels involved in the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the hydraulic clamp of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the same (involves a base frame '1 including spaced end frame assemblies 3 and 5, each end frame assembly comprising a floor contacting crossbeam .7, preferably of channel iron, with a pair of posts 9 also of channel iron, extending upwardly therefrom in spaced relationship to each other and to the ends of the crossbeam 7.

Supported across the upper ends of the corresponding posts of the end frame assemblies, are opposing channel beams 11 and 13, which are Welded to their respective supporting posts, and the entire base frame 1 and supported channel beams 11 and 13 are rigidiiied by gussets 1 5 welded to the crossbeam members 7 and posts 9 as well as to the supported channel beams 11 and 13 at each corner of the base frame.

The opposing mounted channel beams 11 and 13 provide track means for adjustably supporting a pair of track mounting wheels, one of which constitutes a drive wheel 21 and the other an idler wheel 23, with each preferably constructed and mounted for adjustabi'lity as to width to accommodate link tracks of different make and construction.

Each of the wheel assemblies comprises a hub in the form of an elongated sleeve 25, a substantial portion 27 of the length of which, from one end, is provided with an acme thread, leaving the remaining portion 29 unthreaded. On the threaded portion 27 is threadedly mounted, a hub collar 31 having a partially severed portion 33 thereof which is split and provided with opposing bolt receiving lugs 35 to receive a clamping bolt 39 for locking the hub collar 31 to the sleeve at any adjusted position of the collar along the hub 25.

The wheel includes a pair of spaced side plates or disks 41, 43, one of which 41, fits about the unthreaded portion 2 of the sleeve and is welded thereto, while the other disk 43 is in like manner :aflixed to the hub collar 31, the edges of the disks together forming the rim of the wheel.

The spacing between the side disks is adjustable by rotating the hub collar along the sleeve until the des red spacing is realized, and then locking the collar by tightening the clamping bolt 39. The spacing desired will be determined by the track links 47 of the track 49 to be serviced and will be such as to receive the track links between the side disks thus leaving the pads 51 to ride on the rims of the wheels, each pad having a grouser 53 extending transversely thereof.

Intermediate the side disks of the wheel is a cylinder 57 concentric with the hub sleeve 25 and welded at one edge to the fixed side disk 41 of the wheel, while at its other edge, it is welded to a bracing disk 61 of smaller diameter than the side disks, and which, like the side disk 41, is welded to the hub 25.

This cylinder 57 constitutes a drum about which to run a cable 65 for wrapping a link track about the track supporting wheels in a manner to be described.

The wheel assembly is rotatably mounted on a shaft 67 which extends beyond each end of the hub 25, and at each end is anchored to a carriage 71 for slidably mounting the wheel assembly on the channel beams 11, 13, for movement therealong.

Such carriage involves a plate 73 and a lateral extending bushing 75 bolted thereto and into which the end of the shaft 67 fits and is fixed against rotation, by a suitable set screw or bolt 77. The plate 73 extends to a point above the upper flange of the associated channel beam and below the lower flange, sufiiciently to permit mounting of a pair of rollers 79 in contact with the proximate flange. Such roller mounting of the track supporting wheel is to permit'of adjusting the spacing between the drive wheel 21 and the idler wheel 23 for use in wrapping a link track about the wheels for the servicing of such track.

To provide for controlled adjustment of the spacing between the drive wheel21 and the idler wheel 23, a nut 85 is bolted or otherwise afiixed to each of the roller mounting plates 73 in such manner that the nut is supported within the proximate channel beam to threadedly receive and ride on an adjusting screw 87, lying Within the channel beam and supported at each end in a supporting end plate 89 which is welded or otherwise fixed within the channel beam adjacent the proximate end thereof.

Each half of each of the adjusting screws 87 is threaded, with the thread of one half reversed to that of the other half, while the threads carried by the one adjusting screw are similar to those carried by the other adjusting screw, whereby upon simultaneous rotation of both adjusting screws in a common direction, the track mounting wheels 21 and 23 will be caused to move toward each other or away from each other, depending on the direction of rotation of the screws.

To provide for such controlled adjustment of the link track mounting wheels, each of the adjusting screws at its midpoint, is provided with a sprocket 89 which is drive connected by a sprocket chain 91 to a sprocket 93 on the shaft of a drive motor 95, the motor being mounted on a crossbar 97 extending between the channel beams 11, 13 at their midpoints and connected thereto as by welding. Depending on the direction of rotation of this drive motor, the resulting rotation of the adjusting screws 87 will cause the link track mounting wheels 21, 2-3 to slide toward or away from each other.

Motive power to the drive wheel 21 is provided by a motor 1G1 supported by a bracket 1213 on that roller carriage adjacent the fixed side disk 41 of the wheel, and a drive connection from such motor to the drive wheel including a pinion 1G5 driven by the motor and engaging an internal gear 107 afiixed to the fixed side disk 41 of the wheel. Thus the motor will maintain such drive connection to the drive wheel 21 regardless of the adjusted position of the drive wheel along the channel beams.

To effect wrapping of a link track 49 about the track supporting wheels 21, 23, the wheels are adjusted toward each other sufiiciently to assure a loose encirclernent by the track to be serviced, which track, as a preliminary step, is first stretched out on the dloor, the links. 4-7 facing upwardly. The cable 65 with one end anchored to the intermediate drum portion 57 of the drive wheel 21, is brought around the drum of the idler wheel 23 and connested at its free end to the proximate end of the link track. The drive motor 101 for the drive wheel is then energized to wind the cable about the drum of the drive wheel, in the course of which, the link track to be ser-viced, will be pulled over the idler wheel and the drive wheel.

The diameter of the drum of the idler wheel should be such as to just permit clearance for the links of the track, but inasmuch as the drum of the drive wheel must wind the cable, the diameter of the drum of the drive wheel should be of sufficientry smaller diameter to accomplish this purpose, without interference from the links of the track being wrapped about the wheels. Rotation of the drive wheel is continued until the advancing end of the track substantially encircles the drive wheel, at which time, the drive motor 101 is reversed sufliciently to relax the wrapped end of the track and permit it to dangle to the floor, at which time the drive motor is stopped and the cable connection to the track is disconnected.

With the supporting wheels sufliciently close to each other, the free ends of the track may then be readily pinned together to form and endless track or :loop, whereupon the adjusting screw drive motor 5 may be ener- 4 gized in a direction to cause the wheels 21 and 23 to move apart to thereby lift the track completely from the floor or supporting surface and tension the same.

To facilitate dragging of the track over the crossbeams 7 in the process of wrapping the same around the mounting wheels, a metal mat 111 of a length to span both crossbeams may be laid across such crossbeams, with the ends of the mat sloping into contact With the floor.

With the link track thus wrapped about the supporting Wheels and tensioned, it is in position to be worked on and serviced. For this purpose, the link track is exposable at either end of the track loop, to a burner and welding head assembly mounted for positioning above either end of the track loop, and when in either position, adapted for additional adjustment relative to the track to place the assembly in proper operational position at the extreme end of the track loop.

The mounting which permits of such positioning and adjustment of the burner and welding head assemblies involves a bridge 117 straddling the track mounting assembly at substantially the mid-point thereof, such bridge including a pair of upright members 119 extending above the upper reach of a link track when installed for servicing, such uprights being connected at their upper ends by a cross member 121. At an intermediate elevation, the upright members of the bridge are connected by a cross member 123 adapted to brace the bridge and at the same time serve as a support for the upper reach of such installed link track.

'Mounted on a cross member !121 is a fixed circular plate 127 having a hollow central shaft 129 to receive and journal the pivot shaft 131 of a rotatable plate 133 lying in a parallel plane.

This rotatable plate has mounted thereon a pair of spaced apart and opposing bearing housings 139, 141 to slidably support a cantilever beam or boom 147 comprising primarily a section of pipe 151 of suitable length and preferably having afiixed thereto along the upper ridge thereof, a stabilizing rail 153 of angle iron.

Each of the bearing housings comprises a vertical plate 159 having an aperture therethrough of the general contour and size of the boom cross-section to permit free passage and movement of the boom through such openings which are in alignment.

Normal to each surface of the angle iron rail 153 is a bearing notch 163 while facing the under surface of the boom at substantially degrees to each other are a pair of bearing notches 165 in the same plate. These notches are adapted to provide space for upper ball bearing assemblies 169 and lower ball bearing assemblies 171, mounted for rolling contact with the proximate surface portion of the boom, whereby to guide the sliding movement of the boom with a minimum of friction.

In mounting the ball bearing assemblies in their respective notches, the two lower ball bearing assemblies 171 are preferably fixed as to position, by providing a mounting shaft 173 for each, through the inner race of the bearing assembly and bolting the bearing assembly into position ,by suitable screws 175 passing through the shaft and threadedly engaging the plate. The plate engaging ends of each shaft are preferably flat to provide a good surface to surface contact between the shaft and the plate.

As for the upper bearing assemblies .169 engaging the: angle iron rail, these are preferably provided with a certain amount of adjustability so as to assure sufiicient engagement to avoid looseness or play at these points in supporting the boom. Such adjustability is accomplished by welding or otherwise affixing to the plate 159* an angle iron bracket 131 in symmetrical relationship to the angle iron rail and in proximity thereto. Each of the upper roller bearings is provided with a mounting shaft 183 and by supporting each roller bearing with its shaft resting on one of the upper surfaces of the bracket, the shaft may be bolted or fastened to the bracket by machine screws 185 or the like, the fastening screws then being in a direction which will permit adjustability of the associated ball bearing assembly, through the use of shims 137 between the shaft and the bracket.

As with the lower fixed bearing assemblies, the shafts of the upper bearing assemblies are preferably flattened to provide good stable surface to surface contact with the mounting bracket or intervening shims as the case may be.

The aforementioned manner of mounting the boom provides for swinging of the boom about its pivot axis, as well as linear movement thereof in its supporting bearings. To counteract any unbalanced load due to the boom itself as well as any load to be carried thereby at the extremity of the boom, and at the same time permit free swinging movement of the boom and its load about its pivot axis, the rotatable plate 133 carries one or more bearing assemblies or rollers 197 symmetrically located beneath the loaded end of the plate and in rolling contact with the stationary plate 127 below, while at diametrically opposite locations, the rotatable plate is provided with depending brackets 199 each adapted to mount a bearing assembly or roller 2M in engagement with the under surface of the stationary plate.

At its load carrying end, the boom terminates in a depending yoke 2% with each leg 2%7 thereof terminating in proximity to the upper surface of the proximate channel beam 11 or 13, and carrying a handle or handle grip 2&9 adapted for rasping by an operator to adjust the pull-out position of the yoke.

To the dependirv legs of the yoke, is mounted a frame assembly 215. The frame assembly includes a pair of opposing side members 217, each pivoted to a bracket arm 219 hinged on a vertical pin 22% to the end of an adjustable rack 221 carried by the proximate leg or" the yoke, the opposing side frame members being connected together at their lower ends by upper and lower parallel spaced bars 225', 227 respectively and at their upper ends by a cross bar or rail 229. Along these bars rides a carriage 231 on whi h are mounted a burner assembly 235 and a welding head assembly 237 both of which may be of conventional design. Such carriage involves a top plate 241 disposed across the upper edge of the upper bar 225 and having end notches in alignment with the upper bar to receive rollers 245 adapted to ride on the upper edge of such bar. Guide rollers 247 affixed to the under side of the top plate, to either side of the bar 225' and in contact therewith, serve to guide movement of the top plate along the upper edge of the bar and prevent swayin Depending from the front edge of the top plate is a face plate 251 extending preferably to a point below the lower bar 227. Intermediate the face plate 251 and the lower bar 227 is a guide rail 255' which is aihxed to the lower bar at its midpoint and in spaced relationship thereto, while the ends of such rail are adjustably spaced with respect to the lower bar by threaded engagement thereof with adjusting screws Z57 rotatably anchored to the lower bar, whereby rotation of the adjusting screws will cause the proximate or controlled end of the rail to move toward or away from the lower bar to produce a controllable bowing of the guide rail.

l-lingedly secured to a vertical edge of the face plate by a hinge 26% is a mounting plate 261 which carries the burner assembly 235 and the welding head assembly 237, each with its conventional adjustments, but with the welding head assembly located in proximity to the hinge axis and preferably of the type capable of use in submerged arc welding.

Extending rearwardly from the mounting plate 261 through a suitable opening in the face plate 251, is a spring mounting bolt 267 adapted to receive a spiral spring 269 held under compression by a washer and nut combination 271 applied to the end of the bolt. This sprin and its mounting serve to draw the mounting plate 261 toward the face plate 251, in the absence of opposition thereto.

Such opposition is provided in the form of a roller mounting bracket 2'75 on the mounting plate, extending through a hole in the face plate and carrying a roller 277 in rolling engagement with the guide rail 25%.

From this ma er of mounting the burner assembly and welding assembly, it will be apparent, as the supporting carriage moves from one end of the upper bar 225 to the opposite end, the mounting plate 261 will swing on its hinge axis in accordance with the bow in the guide rail 255, such swing of the mounting plate bein imparted in a greater degree to the burner assembly 235 than to the welding head assembly 237 which will hardly be affected, by reason of it being located in close proximity to the hinge axis.

Thus, while the burner assembly will describe an arcuate path of travel, the path of travel followed by the welding head assembly will be substantially straight. The significance of this difference in paths of movement will become apparent in connection with the removal of grousers 53 from a track being serviced, and applying now grousers in place thereof.

Movement of the carriage 31 is controlled by a chain drive 285 involving a drive motor 237 mounted on one side member 217 of the frame assembly and carrying a drive sprocket 239, an idler sprocket 29?. mounted at a corresponding point on the opposite member of the frame assembly, and an endless sprocket chain 2% encircling the drive sprocket and idler sprocket. The drive chain is located behind the face plate 251, with provision for a reversible drive connection 297 between the carriage 23?. and the chain 293. Such reversible drive connection includes a pair of plates involving an upper plate 3% and a lower plate 393 extending horizontally from the rear surface of the face plate, the upper horizontal plate terminating above the upper reach of the chain while the lower plate terminates below the lower reach of the chain. in the face plate intermediate the horizontal plates 3 31 and is journalled a short shaft 3:;7, on the outer end of which is mounted a handle or knob 31%, while on the inner end is a cylinder block 31%.

Eccentrically threaded or otherwise afixed to the face of the cylinder block to provide an eccentric, is a stub shaft 311 about which is a bushing 313 supporting a drive block 315, cushioned by an intervening ring or collar 316 of rubber, the eccentricity of the ub shaft being such as to cause the drive block 3115 to engage either the upper reach of the chain 2% or the lower reach, depending on the throw of the handle 399. When so engaged, the chain is gripped bet veen the drive block 3l5 and the proximate horizontal plate Trill or 333, whereby the carriage will be caused to move with the chain in one direction or the other depending upon which reach of the chain is thus grasped.

Welding wire 317 may be fed to the welding head asembly 237 from an overhead reel 31% preferably at a constant speed as when the weldin system employed is of the constant potential type. The constant speed drive means may be of the air drive type or the constant speed motor drive type, both of which are known in the art and not illustrated.

The reel is preferably carried by an upwardly extending bracket 32%) welded at its lower end to the carriage 231i and braced and guided in in its movement with the carriage, by a plate 321 atiixed to the bracket just above the frame cross bar or rail 229 and carrying guide rollers 323 against each side of the rail.

By reason of the pivotal mounting of the frame assembly, the frame is capable of being lifted from a down or operating position of the burner and welding head assemblies to an elevated or tilted up position, whereby the burner assembly and welding head assembly may be lifted from the work.

To accomplish such lifting of the frame assembly, one

side arm 217 of the frame has pivotally secured thereto at a point below its supporting pivot, a hand lever 325, carrying at its remote end, a roller 527 adapted to engage an abutment 529 depending from the proximate bracke arm 21?. Upon swinging the hand lever downward to a position approaching 90 degrees with the side arm of the frame assembly, the frame will be tilted up and supported in elevated position by the lever until the lever is returned to its former position, when the frame assembly will again be lowered to determine the operating position of the burner assembly or welding head assembly.

With the equipment thus set up, a worn grouser positioned below the operating position of the burner assembly and welding head assembly, is adapted to be burned oif and a new one welded in its place.

Just below the operating position of the burner and welding head assemblies and supported by each of the roller mounting plates 73 of the wheel assembly nounting carriage '71, is a clamp assembly for supporting and clamping one end of a new grouser to a track pad at the point of attachment of the same to the pad.

Each clamp assembly involves a C-clarnp 337 supporte in a horizontal plane by welding the same at one corner to the ends of a pair of horizontally disposed adjusting screws 339 spring mounted to a pinion housing 343 associated with a vertical rack 3+5, which in turn is supported at its lower end to a pinion housing 349 associated with a horizontal rack 351. This horizontal rack is afdxed at one end to the roller mounting plate 73 of the wheel assembly carriage. The C-clamps are accordingly adjustable vertically as well as horizontally to accommodate them to link tracks of different size and make.

in one arm 361 of each C-clarnp, adjacent to the supporting screws 339, there is mounted a cylinder 353, and included piston 365, the cylinder having an oil line connection 367 thereto for hydraulic operation of the piston.

The opposing lateral arm 371 of the C-clamp is formed with a depending hinge bracket 373 at each end thereof to pivotally mount a pair of shelf brackets 375 across which is fixed a grouser supporting shelf 377 adapted to abut the under surface of the supporting arm 371 of the G-clamp in the up position of the shelf, to which position, the shelf is normally urged by hinge springs 379. The shelf is adapted to be forced downwardl against the action of the hinge springs, to a vertical position where it may be temporarily locked by inserting a locking pin through a hole 335 in one of the depending hinge brackets 373 and an aligning hole 337 formed in the proximate shelf bracket 375.

Disposed on the grouser supporting shelf 37'? within the proximate corner of the G-clamp and aflixed to the shelf, is a grouser positioning plate 391 which is tapered to conform to the end taper of a grouser to be affixed to the link track.

As previously indicated, the worn grousers to be removed, are each preferably burned off along an we. Following the removal of all such worn grousers, the clamps are moved into position with each clamp encircling an edge of a pad 51 of the track and with its grousers supporting shelf 377 in horizontal position to receive a new grouser to be applied. With such grouser s ipported, hydraulic fluid is fed to the cylinders 353 to cause the pistor s 365 to advance and pressure engage the pad behind its edge and clamp it and the grouser together.

In the normal use of a tractor, the edges of the link track are normally exposed to heavy bending stresses tending to cause the edges of the track to bend inwardly particularly when the rigidifyiug efi'ect of a grouser is lost upon removal of such grouser. By causing the burner to travel alon" an arcuate path in burning oil a worn grouser, the edges of the track l'mk when placed in the C-clamps, can be forced forward to a greater degree to bring the edges of the pad into contact with the new grouser, to define substantially a straight path for welding. Considerable pressure is required to effect such substantially straight line contact between the link track pad and the base edge of the new grouser to be affixed thereto, and for this purpose, a pressure booster 4&1 is provided which is mounted on the roller plate 73 of one of the wheel assembly carriages 7i, and connected by a pressure discharge hose line 4533 to the hose lines 3 57 leading to the cylinders 363 of the C-clanps.

Such booster involves an air cylinder illl of substan- .tial diameter, having an air hose 4&5 coupled to each end. The cylinder 464 is mechanically connected with an oil cylinder as; of considerable smaller diameter, and from which extends the hose line 493. Surrounding that portion of the oil cylinder adjacent the air cylinder, is an oil reservoir 4&1 having a communication with the interior of the oil cylinder through a small opening 413 in the .all of this cylinder. A pe coupling 4-15 to the oil reservoir permits of maint ining proper oil supply in the reservoir. A second pipe coupling 417 connecting with the reservoir at its upper end is fitted with an elbow 4-19 terminating in a breather plugs 42; at its free end to permit of escape of air accumulating in the upper end of the reservoir asove the oil level therein.

Within the air cylinder is a piston l-Z5 having a piston rod 42? extending into the oil cylinder and terminating at its extremity in a leather cup seal 429' to function as an oil piston. The piston travel is such as to uncover the hole 423 coupling the reservoir to the oil cylinder, during return stroke of the oil piston, while the volume of oil in the oil cylinder with the oil piston at the extremity of its return stroke is sufiicient to drive both clamping pistons ass home with one stroke of the oil piston. The air pressure per square inch employed in driving the air piston will be considerably multiplied in terms of resulting oil pressure in accordance with the ratio of their respective piston areas.

With a replacement grouser in position and properly clamped to the pad to which it is to be affixed, the welding head assembly is placed in operation to elfect welding of the new grouser to the pad in place of the old one, along one side of the grouser. Following such welding, the frame assembly is tilted up and the clamping pistons are withdrawn, following which the track is advanced to the next grouser position and the operation of applying a new grouser to the track is repeated.

As the track is thus intermittently rotated, newly applied grousers will approach the opposite end of the track loop with their unwelded or untreated sides facing upwardly in position for welding along this side of the grousers. The turret type mounting of the boom permits of the welding head assembly 237 to be rotated around to the other end of the track loop in position to perform such welding operation, and this will be done after all new grousers have been welded along the one side. Inasmuch as the new grousers are already afiixed to the track when they reach this end of the loop, no clamps are required for holding them in position for this welding operatron.

Link tracks, while they may differ in length, the differences are not so great as to necessitate a wide range of adjustment in the pull-out positions of the boom, to place the burner and welding head assemblies Within operating position of the track to be serviced. To stabilize the boom within such range, i provide a platform 435 on each end portion of channel beams 11 and 13, of a length covering such range of adjustment, with the surface of each, at its forward end, descending to the surface of the supporting channel beam. By causing the lower ends of the yoke legs 287 to frictionally contact these platforms, adequate stability will be realized.

Because link tracks, even of the same size and make and from link to link, will vary somewhat by reason of the strains and stresses to which they have been exposed in use, minor additional adjustments of the burner and welding head assemblies, may be required. Aside from those adjustments already discussed, the vertical hinge pins 220' permit of a limited degree of sway adjustment of the frame assembly and this will be sufiicient, in using the burner and welding head assemblies, to accommodate the same to slight deviations from the normal.

While all movements of the various movable parts of the apparatus can be controlled independently, I prefer to tie in all such operations through the frame assembly so that they may be coordinated with the position of the burner and welding head assemblies. For example, all rotational and linear movements of the track supporting wheels 21 and 23 should be accomplished only when the burner and welding head assemblies are in their up posi tion, which means with the frame assembly tilted up, and this includes the intermittent forward rotation of the drive wheel to bring successive pads of a track into position for servicing. The hydraulic clamps, on the other band should be energized in the down or functioning position of the welding head assembly.

A mercury switch 241 normally open in the down position of the frame assembly, is mounted on one of the frame side members 217, and accordingly is made responsive to movement of the frame assembly between its down position and up position. 'In the up position of the frame, the switch will be included in common with the circuits to the motors 95 and 16 1, each of which motor circuits may be conventional and include forward and reverse push button controls for each motor, whereby, when the burner and welding head assemblies are in their up positions, either or both motors may be selectively energized and for either forward or reverse drive.

During the actual servicing routine, however, that is following looping of a track about the wheels 21 and 23 and tension-lug the same, all intermittent movement of the track for servicing the same, should preferably be automatically controll d. This I have accomplished by shunting the push button associated with forward movement of the drive wheel motor 1&1, with a shunt circuit including a normally closed switch supported by a crossbar 447 slidably mounted across the channels 11 and 1-3 and adapted to be clamped in position by screws 4 99.

On the crossbar 447 is a switch actuator including a shaft 4 ,9 journalled in spaced ears 453. At one end of this shaft is fixed an indexing finger 455 adapted to be engaged by the base portion of a grouser as the track advances and depressed sufficiently with further advancing of the track to slide by any grouser thereon, even following application of a new grouser to the base portion of a worn one remaining following burning of a wor grouser. This indexing finger is biased to up position by a spring 459.

At the opposite end of the shaft 449 is a switch actuating finger extending to a point below the switch 44-5 in position to actuate the same upon being raised, to open said switch.

As a pad with a worn grouser approaches the position for operating thereon, the indexing finger 455 is depressed sufliciently to open the switch 445 and disconnect the drive motor 191 before the indexing finger passes the grouser. The worm gnouser may then be burned off in the manner indicated, sufiicient of the base portion remaining to hold the indexing finger depressed.

The indem'ng finger being in engagement with the base portion adjacent the surface of the pad, is somewhat spaced from the region of intense heat, and as a further protection against being severed by the burning torch, it is preferably fabricated of heavy copper to conduct heat therefrom rapidly.

Following the burning off of an old grouser, the drive motor 161 is energized manually by depressing the pushbutton, which is shunted by the switch 445 (now open), until the indexing finger passes the base portion of the grouser remaining, at which time the index switch 445 closes and the push-button may then be released. The

rack will then continue to advance until the indexing finger is engaged by the oncoming grouser and the routine is repeated.

In the application of the new grousers to the track, the indexing procedure will function in like manner.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be apparent that the same fulfills all the objects of the invention, and while I have illustrated and described the same in detail, the invention as illustrated and described is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said appa ratus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said suppporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of such track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, and a power drive for said first wheel; means following tensioning of such link track about said wheels for interrupting movement of such tract as successive pads arrive at a predetermined operating station at each end of such track loop; means at one of said operating stations for supporting a new grouser for application to such track; and means for welding such new grouser to such track, said means including a standard located substantially midway between said wheels in the tensioning position of said wheels, an arm swingably mounted about the axis of said standard and of a length to reach to either end of a link track when mounted about said wheels and tensioned, a guide track supported by said arm and adapted to be swung into substantially parallel relationship to a grouser at either end of such link track, and a welding head mounted for movement along said guide track.

2. Grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of such track; and means for Wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, and a power drive for said first wheel; means following tensioning of such link track about said Wheels for interrupting movement of such track as successive grousers arrive at a predetermined operating station; means for removing a worn grouser from such track, said means including a standard located substantially midway between said wheels in the tensioning position of said wheels, an arm swingably mounted about the axis of said standard, said arm being of a length to reach to either end of such track loop, means carried by said arm for removing a worn grouser from such track following arrival thereof at said station; means for supporting a new grouser in the place of a removed grouser; means for welding such new grouser to such link track, said means including said swingably mounted arm, a guide track supported by said arm and adapted to be swung into substantially parallel relationship to a grouser at either end of such link track, a welding head mounted for movement along said guide track.

3. Grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheel; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of such track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same; and a power drive for said first wheel; means following tensioning of such link track about said wheels for interrupting movement of such track as successive lgrousers arrive at a predetermined operating station; means for removing a worn grouser from such track, said means including a standard located substantially midway between said wheels in the tensioning position of said wheels, an arm on said standard and swingable about the axis of said standard, said arm being of a length to reach to either end of such track loop, means carried by said arm for removing a worn grouser from such track following arrival thereof at said station; means for supporting a new grouser in the place of a removed grouser; and means for welding such new grouser to such link track.

4. Grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheel; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of such track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel; means following tensioning of such link track about said wheels for interrupting movement of such track as successive grousers arrive at a predetermined operating station; means for removing a worn grouser from such track, said means including a standard located substantially midway betveen said wheels in the tensioning position of said wheels, an arm mounted on said standard and swingable about the axis of said standard, said arm being of a length to reach to either end of such track loop; means including a burning torch carried by said arm for removing a worn grouser from such track following arrival thereof at said station; means for supporting a new grouser in the place of a removed :grouser; and means including a welding head supported by said arm for welding such new grouser to such link track.

5. Grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof; said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, each wheel having a supporting rim including a pair of circular n'm sections laterally adjustable with respect to each other to alter the effective width of the supporting rim, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheel; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of such track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel; means following tensioning of such link track about said WllfiBlS for interrupting movement of such track as successive grousers arrive at a predetermined operating station; means for removing a worn grouser from such track, said means including a standard located substantially midway between said wheels in the tensioning position of said wheels, an arm mounted on said standard and swingable about the axis of said standard, said arm being of a length to reach to either end of such track loop, a guide track substantially arcuate in contour and supported by said arm in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the grouser to be removed, a burning torch mounted for movement along said guide track and means for moving said torch along said guide track to burn off a worn grouser along an arc with the high point of such arc at substantially the mid-point of such grouser to leave an arcuate base for application of a new grouser; means for clamping a new grouser at its ends to such link track along such arcuate grouser base to the point of stressing such grouser base at its ends into substantial contact with the ends of such new grouser, to provide a substantially straight line contact between them; and means for welding such new grouser to such 'grouser base, said means including said swingably mounted arm, a substantially straight guide track supported by said arm and adapted to be swung into parallel relationship to a grouscr at either end of such link track, a welding head mounted for movement along said straight guide track, and means for maintaining a grouser to be welded, substantially embedded in welding flux during a welding operation.

6. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track; means for supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of said track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same.

7. in grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheel; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of said track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel, wvhereby upon rotation of said first wheel, said link track will be wrapped about said wheels in position to connect the free ends thereof.

8. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wh el; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting said wheels in opposite directions along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning or" said track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensi-oning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel, whereby upon rotation of said first wheel, said link track will be wrapped about said wheels in position to connect the free ends thereof.

9. In grouser replacement apparatus :for link tracks of the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grouser extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adapted to carry a link track, each wheel having a supporting rim including a pair of circular rim sections laterally adjustable with respect to each other to alter the efiective width of the supporting rim, and one of said Wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheels; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustably shifting at least one of said wheels along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of said track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one Wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel, whereby upon rotation of said first wheel, said link track will be wrapped about said wheels in position to connect to free ends thereof.

10. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like involving a plurality of ground engaging pads with grousers extending transversely thereof, said apparatus comprising a pair of wheels adap ed to carry a link track, each wheel having a supporting rim including a pair of circular rim sections laterally adjustable with respect to each other to alter the effective width of the supporting rim, and one of said wheels having an intermediate section of smaller radius than said other wheel; means supporting said wheels in alignment; means for adjustable shifting said wheels in opposite directions along said supporting means to alter the distance between them within a range permitting loose wrapping of such link track completely about said wheels and subsequent tensioning of said track; and means for wrapping a link track about said wheels, preliminary to connecting the free ends thereof to form a loop and tensioning the same, said means including a cable connected at one end to the section of smaller radius of said one wheel and of a length to lay about the other wheel and at least reach one end of a link track stretched out below, and a power drive for said first wheel, whereby upon rotation of said first wheel, said link track will be wrapped about said wheels in position to connect the free ends thereof,

11. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like, means for successively presenting the individual grousers of a worn link track to an operating station for removal, a guide track supported substantially parallel to the plane of the grouser to be removed, a burning torch mounted for movement along said guide track to burn on a worn grouser; means for clamping a new grouser to such link track; and means for Welding such ew grouser to such link track.

12. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks of the like, means for successively presenting the individual grousers of a worn link track to an operating sta tion for removal, a guide track substantially ercuate in contour and supported in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the grouser to be removed, a burning torch mounted for movement along said guide track and means for moving said torch along said guide track to burn oil a worn grouser along an arc to leave an arcuate base for.

application of a new grouser; means for clamping a new grouser at its ends to such link track along such arcuate grouser base to the point of stressing such grouser base at its ends substantially into contact with the ends of such new 'grouser to provide a substantially straight line contactt between them; and means for welding such new grouser to such grouser base, said means including a substantially straight guide track supported in parallel rel-ationship to said clamped grouser and a welding head mounted for movement flong said straight guide track.

13. In grouser replacement apparatus for link tracks or the like, means for successively presenting the individual grousers of a worn link track to an operating station for removal, a guide track substantially arc-irate in contour and supported in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the grouser to be removed, a burning torch mounted for movement along said guide track and means for moving said torch along said guide track to burn oil a Worn grouser along an arc with the high point'of such are at substantially the mid-point of such grouser to leave an arcuate base for application of a new grouser; means for clamping a new grouser at its ends to such link track along such arcuate grouser base to the point of stressing such grouser base at its ends substantially into contact With the ends of such new grouser to provide a substantially straight line contact between them; and means for welding such new grouser to such grouser base, said means including a substantially straight guide track supported in parallel relationship to said clamped grouser and a welding head mounted for movement along said straight guide track.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,124,759 Lloyd Ian. 12, 1915 1,743,755 Casella Ian. 14, 1930 1,974,513 Scheidhauer Sept. 25, 1934 2,190,611 Sembdner Feb. 13, 1940 2,251,434 Weiss Aug. 5, 1941 2,906,015 Piepho Sept. 29, 1959 2,917,819 Britten Dec. 22, 19 59 

1. GROUSER REPLACEMENT APPARATUS FOR LINK TRACKS OR THE LIKE INVOLVING A PLURALITY OF GROUND ENGAGING PADS WITH GROUSERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF WHEELS ADAPTED TO CARRY A LINK TRACK; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID WHEELS IN ALIGNMENT; MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLE SHIFTING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WHEELS ALONG SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TO ALTER THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM WITHIN A RANGE PERMITTING LOOSE WRAPPING OF SUCH LINK TRACK COMPLETELY ABOUT SAID WHEELS AND SUBSEQUENT TENSIONING OF SUCH TRACK; AND MEANS FOR WRAPPING A LINK TRACK ABOUT SAID WHEELS, PRELIMINARY TO CONNECTING THE FREE ENDS THEREOF TO FORM A LOOP AND TENSIONING THE SAME, AND A POWER DRIVE FOR SAID FIRST WHEEL; MEANS FOLLOWING TENSIONING OF SUCH LINK TRACK ABOUT SAID WHEELS FOR INTERRUPTING MOVEMENT OF SUCH TRACT AS SUCCESSIVE PADS ARRIVE AT A PREDETERMINED OPERATING STATION AT EACH END OF SUCH 